Chapter 2

When it was time we got in the car and I drove us to the hardware store. Ray pulled up right beside us as I parked in the small dirt lot behind the store. He smiled at me. It was an arrogant smile, almost a leer. I wanted desperately to knock it right off his face. It’s obvious he’s daring me to do just that. He wants me to say something, anything. Or better yet he’d love it if I attacked him so he could have me locked up.

I didn’t, though. I struggled to keep my anger in check and waited for him to unlock the back door. He said good morning to Erin and ignored me. I knew as he turned his back to me I screwed up. I should have said something. I should have threatened him. I should have done something. In his mind I had just given him permission to sexually harass my wife.

He sees she’s wearing a miniskirt as he requested. The bastard has to be thinking the battle is over, he has won. And I guess he’s right. I don’t doubt he’ll soon know she’s not wearing a bra. When I didn’t object to what he’s doing I was, in effect, giving him permission. I have shown myself to be helpless. He’s not going to let that go.

He unlocked the door and went inside. He waited for Erin to enter behind him and as soon as she stepped inside he put his arm around her shoulder and they walked off towards the office. He glanced at me over his shoulder as they walked. He grinned widely as he moved his hand slowly down her back.

His hand was still moving down as they turned into the hallway leading to their offices. I just stood there like a moron and watched him lead my wife away. I finally stepped inside and got the store ready to open.

When it was time I unlocked the front door. I didn’t have much to do until customers started showing up. I stood behind the counter and wondered what was happening in the office. I had some pretty disturbing images in my mind. I listened intently for any sound from the back but I heard nothing.

I looked around, desperate for an excuse to go into the back and check on them. When no one came in right away I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer. I had no reason to go back there. But I had to see if Erin was alright.

I walked into the back. I wasn’t sneaking exactly. But I was being quiet. There are two offices in the back. Erin’s is the first door and Ray’s is the second. There’s also a connecting door between the two offices.

I opened Erin’s door and went in. The connecting door is closed. I went over to her desk and stood looking down at her. I didn’t know what to say. One look at her face told me she’s upset about something. She’s blushing and she looks ... I don’t know, distraught I guess. I can’t tell if she’s mad, sad or scared.

She finally looked up and I asked, “What did he do?”

She just shook her head and in a loud whisper she said, “I’m okay, Dean. Get out of here before he hears you.”

I asked again, “Erin, what did he do?”

The connecting door suddenly opened. Ray stood there with that arrogant grin on his face. He leaned up against the door frame and said, “Go ahead, Erin. Tell him what I did. He’s your husband. He should know.”

She was silent for a long time. But after a long minute of silence, she finally said in a quiet, toneless voice, “He checked to see if I’m wearing a bra.”

I saw him run his hand down her back just after we entered the store. I thought she meant that he had felt for her bra strap.

Ray asked, “How did I check to see if you’re wearing a bra, Erin?”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She looked like she was going to cry. At last she said, “He unbuttoned my blouse and he reached inside. He put his hand on my tits and squeezed them.”

I started for Ray then. I was going to kill him. He didn’t move. He just smiled that arrogant smile and said, “Go ahead, you fucking faggot. Hit me. I fucking dare you!”

I stopped dead in my tracks. I know him well enough to know he’d love it if I hit him. He’d let me too, just so he could have me arrested.

I stood there glaring at him, trying to think. I’m so mad I seem to have lost my ability to reason. He suddenly stopped smiling and growled, “Get that fucking look off of your face you fucking faggot. Don’t forget who won this fucking war. You and your hot little wife belong to me now. You fucking lost. You’ve been a fucking loser all these years. You just didn’t realize it until now.”

He started grinning again and in a softer tone he said, “Erin, tell him what else I did after I made sure you weren’t wearing a bra. I want him to know. I want him to know everything that happens from now on. He needs to learn a little humility.”

Erin didn’t say anything at first. I continued to stare at Ray for a few seconds and then I looked at Erin. She’s staring at her desk and her lips are pressed tightly together.

Ray prodded her, “Erin?”

Erin sobbed quietly and said, “He made me take off my pantyhose and my panties. He took them away and told me not to wear them again.”

“What else did I say Erin?” he prodded again.

There was another long silence and finally Erin whispered, “He told me to shave my pubic hair off.”

Ray chuckled evilly and said, “That isn’t what I said Erin. Tell the loser what I said to you.”

Erin took a deep breath and said, “He told me to shave my cunt hair off so my cunt will look like a little girl’s.”

That was all that I could take. I started for him again but Erin shot out of her chair and came between us. There are tears running down her cheeks but she stood firm and said, “DEAN! Stop it! You’re smart enough to know he wants you to hit him. Do you want to go to jail? What happens to me then?”

I stared at her. I stood over her struggling with this fury I felt and the absolute need to protect her. She knows what’s going through my mind and I suppose she wishes she could let me give him the severe beating he deserves. But she said, “Dean, you can’t win this. Let it go.”

I looked back at Ray. I have never been so mad in my life. But I can see how disappointed he is that Erin stopped me from attacking him. He straightened up and moved into the room. He obviously isn’t ready to give up yet. He really wants me to hit him.

He moved behind Erin and casually reached down pulled her miniskirt up to her waist.

She just closed her eyes and stood still.

He smiled at me and said, “Take a good look Dean. This is the last time you are going to see her with hair on that cute little pussy. I don’t know about you, but I hate getting pussy hair in my teeth.”

He continued to hold Erin’s skirt up around her waist. He looked me right in the eyes and said, “Now get your lazy ass back out there and get to work before I have to fire you. You don’t want me to fire you, Dean. If I fire you then the only income you’ll have is what Erin brings home. I imagine your manhood is hanging by a thread as it is. If you had to send your sweet little wife off to work every morning while you stayed home and cleaned house I imagine that little thing would just shrivel up and drop right off.”

As he was ordering me back to work and threatening me he reached out and rested his hand on Erin’s ass and caressed it as if it belonged to him. I suppose it’s his way of telling me that it does. And as I turned and walked out of that office I heard Erin sob quietly. By turning and walking away I had just conceded defeat to Ray. I had, in effect, given my wife to him.

I was sick as I made my way back up the hall and into the store. I mean I was physically ill. I was struggling to keep from throwing up. Before I got to the end of the short hall I heard a noise from Erin. I don’t know what it meant. But I couldn’t bring myself to go back down there and see what he had done or is doing to her. I’m pretty sure that I don’t want to know.

I went back out into the store just as two men came in. The store sells more than hardware. We also stock a large selection of firearms, ammunition and fishing equipment. Nearly everyone in town, or at least nearly every male and a large number of females, is a hunter or fisherman or both. We’re the only hardware store for a lot of miles in all directions and people come in here for all their hardware needs. But half our business is supplying sportsmen with their supplies.

The two customers who just came in are shopping for ammunition which is an easy sale for me. That meant my mind was free to wander into the back room and wonder what Ray is doing with my wife. I kept glancing at the display of pistols and wondering if shooting him would be as much fun as I think it would.

Business started picking up after that and I was kept pretty busy for the rest of the morning. Just before noon Ray came out and said, “I have to go home for a little while. I’m going to take my lunch break now. You can take your lunch when I get back.”

I half expected him to leave with Erin. But he didn’t. He went out through the back, got in his car and left. As soon as he was gone and I had a free moment I hurried into the back to check on Erin.

She’s sitting at her desk staring straight ahead and not moving. She’s been crying and she looks like she’s about one step away from going out of her mind.

I went over to her and tried to take her in my arms. She tried to push me away. She shook her head and said, “No, Dean. Don’t. I ... he wants me to tell you. He wants you to go crazy and do something stupid. He wants you in jail.”

I pulled her to her feet and took her in my arms and held her tight. I don’t know what the hell she’s talking about. But I have my suspicions and I don’t think I want to hear what she’s supposed to tell me.

She buried her face in my chest and cried like I’ve never seen a woman cry before. It broke my heart. I could only hold her and try to kiss her and tell her we’ll find a way out of this. Every time I tried to kiss her she turned away and finally she said, “He made me suck his cock. He came in my mouth and he made me swallow it. Do you know where he is now?”

I stuttered, “H-h-e w-went home. He went home for lunch.”

She sobbed again and then she said, “He went home to get some of his ex-wife’s old clothes. He bought her a bunch of what he calls slut clothes. He wants me to wear them. He said my clothes are too frumpy.”

I remembered Ray’s ex, Kathy. She had been beautiful and very nice. I don’t remember her dressing in anything unusually sexy, though. I don’t remember her wearing anything that most women her age don’t wear. I remember she was very petite. Erin is pretty small but I’m not sure Kathy’s clothes will fit her. But then, Ray probably doesn’t care about that. The fucking pervert probably prefers that they don’t fit her.

I finally came to my senses and said, “That’s it. Let’s get out of here. No house is worth this. No town is worth this.”

She pulled away from me and with tears streaming down her cheeks she said, “He showed me the proof he’s going to use if we don’t do what he says. He has a stack of papers he says prove you’ve been stealing from the store. He even has pictures of you taking things out of the back of the store.”

“What things?!” I exclaimed. “Erin, I have never stolen anything in my life!”

She said, “I know that, Dean. But he has pictures of you taking boxes off of the loading dock and putting them in the car.”

The only thing I can think of is that he has pictures of me loading up the car to make a delivery, at his request. And any papers he has which purport to show I’m a thief have to be fake.

I said, “I didn’t take anything, Erin. I’m sure I can prove his evidence is faked. We need to get out of here now. If we don’t, the son of a bitch will own us. He’ll be able to do anything he wants to you. I’ve heard things about him, Erin. He doesn’t just want to fuck you. He likes some weird stuff. He wants to humiliate us. If we don’t leave now then he wins. He owns us.”

She shook her head and said, “I’m scared. I can’t let him put you in jail. I don’t dare cross him. We have to find another way, Dean. We can’t fight this fight with him. I’m too afraid he might win. If he put you in jail it would kill me. And then he would have won everything because I couldn’t walk away and not have a job. I’d be nothing but a slave to the bastard!”

I took her back in my arms and said, “Erin, I don’t know what to do. My mind doesn’t work like his. I don’t know how to fight this.”

She hugged me and said, “I know, baby. I don’t expect you to fight him. I don’t want you to fight him. I’m so afraid right now. But of all of the things I’m afraid of I am most afraid he’ll have you put away. I couldn’t stand that. It would kill me.”

I heard someone out front at that moment, calling out for me to come check them out. I kissed Erin. I had to hold her face in place. She kept trying to turn her head.

I said, “I have to go. Erin, I would rather go to jail than let him take control of our lives this way. Please, think about this.”

She said, “I have, Dean. I can’t let that happen. We’ll find another way.”

She pulled back again and said, “Go. I’ll be alright.”

Somehow I doubted that.

I went out front and apologized to the customers that were waiting. I started ringing up their purchases and trying hard to act normal.

I had just finished with the last customer when Ray came in through the back carrying a large suitcase. He smiled and waved at me and said hello to the customer. Then he said, “Dean, after Mr. Hill leaves would you come into the office please?”

I just nodded and turned back to Mr. Hill. He’s staring at me and he has a funny look on his face. He asked, “Are you alright, Dean? You don’t look so good.”

I smiled as well as I could and said, “Probably just a case of spring fever, Mr. Hill. You have a good day now.”

After he left I stood there for a moment. I glanced back over at the pistols in the display case on the wall. Then I went into the back.

I looked into Erin’s office. She wasn’t in there. I went down to the next door, Ray’s office, and opened it. I couldn’t believe what I saw. Erin was standing there naked. She was about to put on some article of clothing Ray is handing her.

I stood there unable to move or speak. I have never felt more helpless in my life. Erin didn’t even look up. She’s bright red. She’s too embarrassed to look at me.

I watched as she put her arms into the dress Ray just handed her. I think it’s a dress. When she pulled it closed and tried to button it I wasn’t sure it wasn’t just a long top. It only just barely covers the cheeks of her ass.

She stood with her back to me and buttoned it up with difficulty. It’s pretty tight on her. When she was done Ray stepped closer and unbuttoned the top three buttons. That opened the dress to below her breasts. Then he ordered her to turn around slowly.

I watched as she turned to model the dress, if that’s what it is. It’s nearly obscene. Erin is a very shy person. She doesn’t even dress in things like that when we’re home alone!

When she turned to face me I saw that with the three buttons unfastened her breasts are uncovered almost to her nipples. She turned all the way around and said, “Ray, it’s too tight. And it is way too short.”

Ray smiled and said, “Nonsense, Erin. It’s perfect. And what did I tell you about addressing me by my first name?”

Erin said, “I’m sorry, sir. Mr. Nash. But Mr. Nash, Kathy is smaller than I am. I can hardly breathe in this.”

He just smiled and said, “It looks beautiful on you, Erin. You just need to get used to it. Now I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

He turned to me finally and asked, “Isn’t she beautiful, Dean?”

I was still thinking about those pistols out front. I said, “Listen, Ray...”

He interrupted me brusquely. “That’s Mr. Nash, Dean. We need to restore order around here. My father was much too lax with the help.”

I bit my tongue for a long moment. I was close to losing the battle to keep from killing the son of a bitch. Finally I said, “Mr. Nash, you can’t do this to us. You have to stop this. It isn’t right. You and I never got along. But your quarrel is with me, not her.”

Ray just smiled and said, “Apparently I can do it, Dean. Did she tell you she sucked my cock a little while ago? She wasn’t bad. She just needs a little practice. I’m such a nice guy I’m going to make sure she gets lots of practice.”

He paused to enjoy the look on my face. He saw the fury and the frustration there and he seemed to feed on it. The son of a bitch has a hard on and I don’t doubt at all that it’s as much from how much what he’s doing is tearing me up inside as from seeing Erin in the nude and dressing her up like a stripper.

Then he went on to say, “You see, Dean, I’ve been planning this for quite some time. It wasn’t just something that occurred to me when Ruth handed in her notice. I have been accumulating documents and photographs and I’m reasonably certain if I take those things over to the town marshal and show him what I have you’ll spend the next five to eight years in prison. I’ve already begun gathering a case against Erin as well. It isn’t as ironclad as the case I’ve compiled against you. Not yet anyway. But the really funny part of all this is that even if you were to convince a judge and jury you were innocent, by the time you did your house would be in foreclosure and you’d both be ruined in this community. And you know the way people think. Even if you win in court, people are going to be pretty sure you did it. After all, they wouldn’t have arrested you and put you on trial if you were innocent. That’s how it works and you know it.”

He’s so damned sure of himself, so fucking cocky! And he’s so fucking right.

I stood there helplessly as he pushed Erin down over a table. Her little dress lifted up in back. He lifted it up the rest of the way to uncover her ass. He stared right at me as he calmly reached between her legs and groped her pussy. I heard her sob quietly as his fingers explored her as if he owns her. I watched her whole body stiffen up as he plunged his fingers inside of her and fucked her with them for a moment. His eyes never left mine.

He took his hand away from my wife’s pussy and calmly opened up his pants. I was forced to watch as he pushed her legs a little farther apart with his foot and then forced his cock up inside of her while I watched in silence.

He was looking at me as his cock entered her. He’s smiling and taunting me. Erin i s gripping the table and crying. I was just about to snap. I took two steps towards him when Erin became aware of what I was about to do. She looked up at me and screamed, “NO! Dean, you stay where you are!”

I started to turn and leave but Ray said, “Hold on, Dean. I’ll be finished in a minute or two. This whole situation turns me on more than I have ever been turned on in my fucking life! God damn this makes me hot! I love raping your little wife in front of you. It is, without a doubt, the hottest sex I’ve ever had. We’re going to have to do this more often. A lot more often!”

I stood there stunned and beaten. I watched as he gripped Erin’s hips and began raping her violently. After a few minutes he leaned down and reached around her body. Her breasts had popped out of that tiny dress. He took them in his hands and squeezed them as if he was trying to hurt her. She gasped and cried out. But she didn’t move.

It seemed to me that he lasted a very long time. I’m sure that it seemed like a long time to Erin, too. I watched as his long, hard cock disappeared into her body, one violent thrust after another. Erin grunted in response to each brutal thrust and the sound of flesh slapping flesh filled the small room. He finally tensed up and I was forced to watch him flood her pussy with his hot cum right in front of me.

He swore softly and caught his breath. Then he said, “Damn, Dean! I love your wife’s tight little cunt!”

He finally stepped back and reached over her. He grabbed a handful of her long, natural blonde hair and pulled her around to face him. He pushed her to her knees and said, “Clean that up for me bitch. I can’t put my pants on over that mess. I don’t want to stink.”

I watched in disbelief as Erin leaned forward and opened her mouth. Before his soft, slimy cock entered her mouth the smell reached her and she retched. She struggled to control it and managed to remain still as he forced his cock into her mouth.